In Sheila Kohler’s, “Baboons”, and Adam Haslett’s, “City Visit”, both stories reveal that loneliness cause the exploration of one’s sexual orientation. Two characters from vastly different backgrounds explore their sexual backgrounds with persons of the same sex, all in secrecy. One confesses to his wife that he is having an affair with another man while the other goes to New York with his mother to meet a man whom he met online with the intention of exploring his sexual preference, without the mother knowing. Both stories are connected to loneliness. Without loneliness, the stories cannot proceed into the exploration of one’s sexual orientation. In Sheila Kohler’s story, during an evening drive along the road to Oudtshoorn, Jan Marais reveals
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Jan having an affair with another man, yet he still tells Kate that he loves her, In Kate’s perspective she is left with questions. However, because Kate’s perspective is also presented, it is easier to understand Jan. The questions posed by Kate is a great place to begin analyzing Jan. “Were there others?” (478), it is possible that with the long hours of work that Jan has to do, Jan may not have used that time working, rather spending time exploring his sexual orientation through intercourse of people of the same sex, the opposite sex, or even both, which could answer the following question asked by Kate; “Is it possible for a man to love both man and woman?” (478). The fact that Kate is, in a sense very naïve and knows so very little of Jan, means he has absolute freedom once he steps outside his house and he can fully explore himself as he is away. In Haslett’s story, Brendan deals with his “horny loneliness” (371) by travelling to New York to meet a person who he met on the Web named Tom. Brendan’s mother, as an active member of the Church, does not particularly like homosexuals. When given a chance to explore New York City by himself, he meets up with Tom at the building where Tom is staying. The much younger Brendan has not had as much experience with people of the similar sex as Jan in Kohler’s story. This is made clear when Tom asks him the question “It’s your first time isn’t it?” (375) and Brendan
Jan having an affair with another man, yet he still tells Kate that he loves her, In Kate’s perspective she is left with questions. However, because Kate’s perspective is also presented, it is easier to understand Jan. The questions posed by Kate is a great place to begin analyzing Jan. “Were there others?” (478), it is possible that with the long hours of work that Jan has to do, Jan may not have used that time working, rather spending time exploring his sexual orientation through intercourse of people of the same sex, the opposite sex, or even both, which could answer the following question asked by Kate; “Is it possible for a man to love both man and woman?” (478). The fact that Kate is, in a sense very naïve and knows so very little of Jan, means he has absolute freedom once he steps outside his house and he can fully explore himself as he is away. In Haslett’s story, Brendan deals with his “horny loneliness” (371) by travelling to New York to meet a person who he met on the Web named Tom. Brendan’s mother, as an active member of the Church, does not particularly like homosexuals. When given a chance to explore New York City by himself, he meets up with Tom at the building where Tom is staying. The much younger Brendan has not had as much experience with people of the similar sex as Jan in Kohler’s story. This is made clear when Tom asks him the question “It’s your first time isn’t it?” (375) and Brendan